Essay On Sojourner Truth

745 Words2 Pages

Misha Newton
Ms. Sara Willey
Honors English III, Period 6
19 March 2014
Sojourner Truth: Woman Activist
During the early 1900’s, women and slaves in the United States were fighting for their freedom in society. These brave slaves and women stood up against the laws of that time to earn their rights. Many of these activists became well known during this time, and now in textbooks. One woman stood up for the rights of both women and people of color, Sojourner Truth was born into slavery and escaped after the fight for abolitionism had begun. Sojourner had seen the hardships of being a woman and a slave in her long life. Experiencing prejudice from being a slave and a woman, Sojourner Truth spoke out with enthusiastic speeches on woman rights and slavery in conventions
Sojourner expressed her support of the abolitionist and woman’s rights movement with her speech “Ain’t I a Woman?” On May 28, 1851, Sojourner Truth gave her most famous speech at a Woman’s Convention in Akron, Ohio. In the speech, Sojourner went on to speak her mind on woman rights and slave rights Sojourner expresses how men see women as people who always need a man’s assistance. Sojourner contradicted these ideas by telling how she has been treated by men, and how it was the opposite. Sojourner uses her life experiences to prove the argument was invalid that all women need help from men by stating “I could work as much and eat as much as a man - when I could get it - and bear the lash as well! And ain't I a woman?” Sojourner tells that she is able to do as much as a man and more, but is not seen as a woman or equal to men because of the color of her skin. Sojourner also states that men are afraid to give women rights, “If my cup won't hold but a pint, and yours h...

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...cribing how Sojourner Truth inspires her to continue the fight for woman equality and help for children in today’s society.

Works Cited

Edelman, Marian W., “Ain’t I a Woman?” Huffington Post. 8 March 2011. The Huffington Post.com. Web. 01 March 2014.
Fitch, Suzanne P., and Roseanne M. Mandziuk. State “Sabbath School Convention” Sojourner Truth as Orator: Wit, Story, and Song. Westport. Greenwood, 1997. 191-120. Print.
Stanton, Elizabeth C., Susan B. Anthony, and Matilda J. Gag, et al. “Ain’t I a Woman: Reminiscences of Sojourner Truth Speaking.” History of Woman Suffrage. Vol 1. (1881): 114-117.
Truth, Sojourner, “Ain’t I a Woman?” Woman’s Convention, Akron, Ohio, 28-29 May 1851.
Truth, Sojourner. “The Great Sin of Prejudice Against Color” Poem Hunter. N.d. Web. 6 March 2014.

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